KNOW YOUR TEAM: PAARL ROYALS

Paarl Royals have the privilege of playing at one of the most picturesque grounds in South Africa and certainly treated their new fan base to some royale cricket in Betway SA20 Season 1.

The locals transformed Boland Park into a sea of pink with the locals quickly embracing the Royals. This was partly due the Royals squad boasting players who learnt their trade in the winelands region such as Bjorn Fortuin and Ferisco Adams. Fortuin, in particular, had a Betway SA20 Season 1 to remember with the left-armer proving to be exceptionally miserly with the new-ball in the Powerplay.

The local boys were also complimented superbly by world-class internationals such as captain David Miller and England’s white-ball skipper Jos Buttler. Buttler showed exceptional consistency to finish top of the Betway SA20 Season 1 run-scorers charts with 391 runs at an average of 39.10 and strike-rate of 132.40 that drove the Royals all the way to the semi-finals.

The Royals will hope to progress even further in Season 2 after bolstering their squad with West Indies duo Obed McCoy (who missed Season 1 through injury) and Wildcard signing Fabian Allen. They have also balanced the squad better with the addition of teenage paceman Kwena Maphaka and England seamer John Turner in a bid to be competitive away from home, especially on the Highveld.

Of course, the most significant 'signing' of Season 2 is that of new head coach Shane Bond. The New Zealander takes over from JP Duminy (due to his Proteas commitments).

COACHING STAFF

Shane Bond (New Zealand - head coach), Richard Das Neves (strategy and spin bowling coach), Mandla Mashimbyi (fast bowling coach), Siddhartha Lahiri (England - batting coach), Lisa Keightley (Australia – tactical performance coach), Russel Aspeling (team catalyst).

SEASON 2 SQUAD

Ferisco Adams, Fabian Allen (WI), Jos Buttler (ENG), Bjorn Fortuin, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe, Kwena Maphaka, Obed McCoy (WI), David Miller (captain), Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Jason Roy (ENG), Tabraiz Shamsi, Lorcan Tucker (IRE), John Turner (ENG), Mitchell van Buuren, Dane Vilas, Codi Yusuf.

New signings: Obed McCoy (WI - pre-signing), Kwena Maphaka (pre-signing), John Turner (ENG – auction), Lorcan Tucker (IRE – auction), Lhuan-dre Pretorius (rookie), Fabian Allen (Wildcard).

Outs: Eoin Morgan (ENG – retired), Corbin Bosch (trade-out to Pretoria Capitals), Imraan Manack, Ramon Simmonds (WI), Paul Stirling (IRE), Marco Marais (trade-in from Pretoria Capitals).